London : the city of dreams (Trafalgar Square)

Member Name: Aleesha

Product:	Trafalgar Square
Date:	22/11/07 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: no chance of getting bored

Disadvantages: nope

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life,
they say, London , a beautiful city in the heart of
England, boasts of rich culture, diverse people from
all spheres of life, and buildings and landmarks of a
variety of architectural designs.

A well-blended amalgam of all the above
and its influences in politics, arts, commerce,
entertainment, education and fashion contribute to its
status as a global city. It is also a favourite place
to relocate for lost politicians!
After a considerably delayed flight I
landed at Heathrow airport at &am. My bones had
started creaking with all sorts of possible rhythmic
sounds one could imagine courtesy the comfortable
sofas in the waiting lounge. But as soon as I saw
Heathrow's runway, my eyes lit up with excitement and
I forgot all about the jetlag of a torturous flight.

The immigration process went smoothly
and the immigration officer seemed quite tame, and
politely asked me how long I intended to say in
London. Cheerfully I replied, 'one week'. With a
perfunctory smile he said, `thank you for visiting
London`, and off I went.

I stayed at a hotel that seemed to
rower over all buildings on Cromwell Road. I dumped my
luggage and in the enthusiasm to feast my eyes on the
historic city, forgot to tip the hotel boy who gave me
a few dirty looks which I figured later were meant to
make me feel terribly guilty.
As soon as I left the hotel I took
the red tour bus with open rooftop to go around the
majestic city. The weather was absolutely amazing,
though extremely cold--but London ambience is sure to
make you fall in love with the city.
The first place I visited was the
new Palace of Westminster that houses the parliament,
that is, House of commons & House of Lord. Built
between 1840 and 1850 in neo-gothic style, it surely
is the `mother of all parliaments`. Behind its façade
rises the big Ben, where the sound of the majestic
clock keeps booming and is a major tourist magnet.
Going forward we passed by Westminster bridge near the
Westminster Abbey which is London's most important and
oldest building where English, monarchs and some men
of letters are buried. Interestingly enough, and to
the horror of many, the dead are buried under the flat
surface of cemented floor while people walk all over
them!
Moving ahead we went to see a
great tourist attraction, the London Eye. It's a
densely crowded with queues of people wanting to have
a bird's eye view of the entire city from the grand
London Eye. I must add here that this place appears
mesmerizing with bare autumn trees lining the road
leading to London Eye on either side. The trees are
adorned with electric blue lights gleaming in the dark
and elves might suddenly appear from somewhere!

A very peaceful and most serene
part of my journey was a visit to Trafalgar Square. I
stopped by at the square to feed the pigeons who
appear calm and at ease with people feeding them. The
place is always crowded yet it brings so much calmness
inside that once you sit there, tranquility surrounds
you. At Trafalgar Square, looking at the Lord Horatio
Nelson's column, I was reminded of his oft-quoted,
most patriotic remark, "England expects that every man
will do this duty". I later walked towards Piccadilly
and found a fast-food restaurant, where I went to grab
a quick bite. Perched on its first floor, I had a
beautiful view of the hustle and bustle at Piccadilly
Circus.

After my bus tour ended, I took a
cab to the Regent's Mosque in London where Muslims
pray in peace and unity. I witnessed with pleasure how
all shades of human race worshipped together with none
interfering with the others methodology of the SALAT
-no clergy trying to impose a particular FIQH. The
trait of `tolerance' which is a cornerstone of Islamic
faith was predominantly visible.

The very next day, while
walking around the area outside Buckingham Palace,
which is the official residence of the British Monarch
since 1837, when Queen Victoria moved to it from Saint
James Palace, I sat down in a park right opposite the
palace, which is also called St. James Park, for a cup
of coffee and a sandwich. An old couple came by and
asked if they could join me at the table. I willingly
nodded. The couple seemed British and every wrinkle on
their skin seemed to be a decade old . . . they must
have been in their 80s but a rather friendly couple.
We started making polite conservation and they asked
if I was from the Mediterranean region (they were
obviously misled by my light eyes). I told them about
myself and my country (should write my countries,
because I live six months in India and the other six
in Pakistan, but I am Indian) India. From Saint James
Park, I made a dash to the most venerable building in
the city, that is, Tower of London, which is an icon
of Norman military architecture. Beginning as a centre
of defence for William the conqueror, the tower has
served as a royal residence, state prison, execution
ground besides housing the crown jewels.

The night was young and the shops
were almost shut but the nightlife had just begun for
which London has always been famous. I walked towards
Leicester Square to add some spice to my tour--the
detailed shenanigans of the clubs and theaters, Madame
Tassaud Museum, Planetarium etc. I shall save all of
that for another time, may be !

Summary: if any one wants to enjoy life, he must visit London.